INDIAN HISTORY. 985 



CHAPTER XIX. 



INDIAN HISTORY. 



True they have vices — such are nature's growth 

 But only the barbarian's — we have both." 



Byron. 



When Florida was ceded by Spain to the United 

 States, in the year 1821, it was inhabited by several 

 powerful tribes of the natives. The Seminoles, residing 

 in the Alachua country, in the centre of the peninsula, 

 were a branch of the Creek Indians, whose villages mar- 

 gined the Chattahoochee River, near Columbus, in Geor- 

 gia, and the name of Seminole, or Runaway^ originated 

 with a secession of this branch, which occurred at a 

 remote period. Micanoi)y was their principal chief. The 

 TaUahassees inhabited the northern and western por- 

 tion of the peninsula, their chief town being at Tallahas- 

 see, the present capital of the State. Thlock-lo-Tustenug- 

 gee, or Tiger Tail, was their head chief. 



The Mickasukie tribe, under Ar-pe-ik, or Sam Jones, 

 and subsequently under an eminent warrior, Halleck 

 Tustenuggee, had their hunting-grounds on the waters of 

 the Ouithlacouchee, and the heavy swamps that border 

 it. 



South of Lake Okechobee another tribe found a secure 



